Music In Our Minds

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Running Head: ARTICLE CRITIQUE Article Critique on Music in Our Minds EDUU # 606 Dr. N. Davis The article The Music in Our Minds written by Norman M. Weinberger stated that “New brain research shows not only that music is fun, but also that it improves our brain development and enhances skills in other subjects such as reading and math.” In spite of the fact that music is being cut out almost entirely from the majority of schools, Weinberger stated that researchers are clamoring for the attention of school administrators and teachers to make note of the impact listening to or playing music has on child development, intelligence, cognitive abilities, and brain functions. The article reported the biological roots of music and how it is universal across cultures, specifically for communication with infants in the form of lullabies and musical baby talk. Research has proven children’s capacity to process music and discriminate musical notes just like adults. According to this research, the brain is set up to process musical elements because neurons (brain cells) are sensitive to tone pitch, harmonic relationships, rhythm and melodies which are processed in the brain’s right hemisphere, while the left hemisphere processes language. The author stated that if a child’s musical activities were reinforced like language behavior it would also develop naturally. He stated that literature supports that the synapses between brain cells are strengthened by learning and performing music; pointing out that some major functional systems of the brain depend on synaptic strength which are engaged when making music. When children engage in a musical performance they listen to their performance, coordinate with others, learn and remember the nuances of the score and play from memory thereby simultaneously engaging their senses, muscles and intellect that activate
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